Education authorities disturbed by rising pregnancy

Kwabenaso (Ash), Nov. 6, GNA - Education authorities in the Amansie West District have raised concern about the increasing rate at which school children at the basic level in the area are getting pregnant.

Ms Cecilia Ama Serwaah, the District Co-ordinator of Girls' Education, did not provide figures but said the situation is "worrying" and must be checked.

She was addressing a durbar to mobilize funds to support schools at Manso-Kwabenaso.

Ms Serwaah also condemned the soaring drift of pupils into illegal gold mining, popularly referred to as "galamsey."

She blamed this on disinterest and the lack of appreciation of the importance of education by most of the parents

"Let it, however, not be lost on any of us that the best legacy we can give to the young ones is education", she said.

Nana Tabi Gyansah, the chief of the town, urged his people to ensure that all children of school going-age are in school.

He said he found it difficult to rationalize why parents spend frivolously on funerals and other social activities but were reluctant to provide for the educational needs of their children.

Just 12 out of the community's adult population of more than 1,000 have paid the annual special education levy of GH¢1.00 per head.

He said they would continue to lag behind in terms of socio-economic progress if they continued with their negative attitude towards education.

Nana Gyansah said GH¢30,000 was needed to turn some abandoned buildings into classrooms for pupils in the lower primary and to expand facilities at the Kindergarten.

Mr M.A. Peasah, the District Non-Formal Education Officer, on behalf of the district assembly, presented 20 bags of cement to the community.

GNA